In this post, Bambi feels like paying tribute to Lebanon, which is going through rough times due to hyperinflation and political deadlock.
Thus, she will go back in time, just twelve years ago, to share with you two songs with which Lebanon (the host of these prestigious games) celebrated “la francophonie” in 2009.
First, please find the lyrics of song # 1, followed by the actual performance (thanks to Mr. George Breidy for publicly sharing this video with a beautiful montage featuring his country).
The picture above shows the two great singers: Ms. Majida El Roumy (Lebanon) & Mr. Youssou Ndour (Senegal).
The lyrics are by Mr. Saeed Aql; adapted from Arabic by Mr. Alexandre Najjar “Cadmus”. The music is by Mr. Joseph Khalifa/Mr. Jean-Marie Riachi. The distribution is by Mr. Jean-Marie Riachi.
As mentioned above, the video shows Lebanon’s beautiful landscape. We keep hearing sad/bad news from tiny bankrupt Lebanon that Bambi almost forgot about its eternal charm!
Verse 1 in Arabic
My country…
My country is Lebanon and it is a covenant that is neither rice, nor mountains, nor water
My home is love. There is no hatred in love. It is a light, which will never be lost or go astray…
A hand created a masterpiece of beauty… and a mind
Please do not say “my nation” and sweep my world … We are the neighbour of the world and its family
Verse 2 in French
We are the friends of the world
We are its family
And in the deep night
A shining torch
Where our ships anchor
The desert becomes beautiful
Culture is our empire
Freedom our flag
Message of unity, eternal Lebanon
Calls on the planet to ban wars
If all religions forgot their quarrels
It would be so good to live on this old Earth!
Verse 3 in Arabic
My country…
My country is Lebanon and it is a covenant that is neither rice, nor mountains, nor water
My home is love. There is no hatred in love. It is a light, which will never be lost or go astray…
A hand created a masterpiece of beauty… and a mind
Please do not say “my nation” and sweep my world … We are the neighbour of the world and is family
Second, please find song # 2. First, you can read a quick translation of its French lyrics. It is called “hymn of Lebanon for the francophonie”. This will then be followed by this song/hymn, celebrating “la francophonie” in the world.
Bravo to the Notre Dame University Choir for this performance.
The song writer is Mr. Jean-Claude Boulos. The musician is Mr. Elias Rahbani. May he rest in peace (and shame on you, coronavirus, for having recently taken him…).
Bambi hopes you will enjoy this song, especially if you happen to understand the language of Molière, if you are attached to the francophonie, and/or simply if you respect the universal values shared by many different French-speaking countries of our world, including Canada!
Verse 1
We come from all over the world
Driven by deep faith,
Francophonie
You reunite
All races
All classes
Verse 2
In the dialogue of cultures,
We speak the purest language,
Language of history
Full of hope
Eternal language
Universal
(Chorus)
Francophonie, your golden language
Language of Molière, language of Senghor
Francophonie of a hundred cultures
Our dialogue for the future
Verse 3
Let’s live our differences together
Francophones of all tendencies
All in solidarity
Of a new era
In the harmony
That unites us
Verse 4
We come from all over the world
Driven by deep faith,
All in solidarity
Of a new era
In the harmony
that unites us
(Chorus)
Francophonie, your golden language
Language of Molière, language of Senghor
Francophonie of a hundred cultures
Our dialogue for the future
